Vacuum adiabatic body and refrigerator

ABSTRACT

A vacuum adiabatic body includes a heat exchange pipeline and a sealing plug. The heat exchange pipeline includes at least two pipelines which pass through a first plate and a second plate to allow a refrigerant to move between inner and outer spaces. The sealing plug allows the heat exchange pipeline to pass through a first point of the first plate and a second point of the second plate without contacting a third space.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. National Stage Application under 35 U.S.C. §371 of PCT Application No. PCT/KR2019/007763, filed Jun. 26, 2019, whichclaims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2018-0074280, filedJun. 27, 2018, whose entire disclosures are hereby incorporated byreference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a vacuum adiabatic body and arefrigerator.

BACKGROUND ART

A vacuum adiabatic body is a product to suppress heat transfer byvacuumizing the interior of a body thereof. The vacuum adiabatic bodymay reduce heat transfer by convection and conduction, and hence isapplied to heating apparatuses and refrigerating apparatuses. In atypical adiabatic method applied to a refrigerator, although it isdifferently applied in refrigeration and freezing, a foam urethaneadiabatic wall having a thickness of about 30 cm or more is generallyprovided. However, the internal volume of the refrigerator is thereforereduced.

In order to increase the internal volume of a refrigerator, there is anattempt to apply a vacuum adiabatic body to the refrigerator.

Korean Patent No. 10-0343719 (Cited Document 1) discloses a method inwhich a vacuum adiabatic panel is prepared and then built in walls of arefrigerator, and the exterior of the vacuum adiabatic panel is finishedwith a separate molding such as Styrofoam. According to the method,additional foaming is not required, and the adiabatic performance of therefrigerator is improved. However, fabrication cost is increased, and afabrication method is complicated. As another example, a technique ofproviding walls using a vacuum adiabatic material and additionallyproviding adiabatic walls using a foam filling material has beendisclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2015-0012712 (CitedDocument 2). According to Reference Document 2, fabrication cost isincreased, and a fabrication method is complicated.

To solve this problem, the present applicant had filed Korean PatentApplication NO. 10-2013-0049495 (Cited Document 3), which discloses atechnique that provides a vacuum adiabatic body in an empty vacuum statewithout providing a separate adiabatic material therein. In addition,this technique provides a heat exchange pipeline provided in the vacuumadiabatic body. The heat exchange pipeline is a pipeline in which twopipelines, i.e., an inlet pipe of an evaporator and an outlet pipe ofthe evaporator, contact each other. The heat exchange pipeline is apipeline in which a refrigerant flowing through the inside of the twopipelines are heat-exchanged with each other to improve performance of arefrigerating cycle.

The heat exchange pipeline passes through the inside of the vacuum spacepart to extend to the outside and inside of the refrigerator. Thus, tomaintain the vacuum state of the vacuum space part, a position at whichthe heat exchange pipeline passes through the vacuum space part and aplate inside the refrigerator may be sealed. To achieve the aboveobjects, this applicant has disclosed a structure to seal a separatepipeline of a branched heat exchange pipeline in FIGS. 17 and 18, whichis disclosed in Korean Patent Application No. 10-2017-0171596 (CitedDocument 4).

According to the cited document 4, to maintain the sealing, the twopipelines of the heat exchange pipelines may be branched to pass throughthe vacuum space part to cause four penetrated portions or openings.However, as the number of penetrated portions increases, a heat loss mayoccur. Also, it may be difficult to maintain a vacuum in the vacuumspace part if there is a problem in any one of the penetrated portions.Also, a welding part of the two pipelines may be exposed to the vacuumspace part, and thus, a gas generated from the welding part may destroythe vacuum state of the vacuum space part.

In addition, a pressure loss of a refrigerant may occur due to a sharpbending angle of the branched point of each of the two pipelinesconstituting the heat exchange pipelines. The bending angle of the heatexchange pipeline more increases due to a pitch gap (about 200 mm) ofthe bar constituting the supporting unit. Also, since heterogeneousbonding is performed between a stainless material forming the vacuumspace part and a copper material forming the heat exchange pipeline atthe penetrated portion, it is difficult to carry out the work orinstallation.

The cited documents disclose a feature in which the heat exchangepipeline is placed in the vacuum adiabatic body to maintain the thermalinsulation. For this, since many pipelines of the heat exchange pipelinemay be provided at the fixed positions within the vacuum adiabatic bodybefore the vacuum adiabatic body is vacuum sealed, it may be difficultto perform the work or installation. Also, there is a high possibilitythat the vacuum state of the vacuum adiabatic body is destroyed by thesealing, which may lead to discarding the vacuum adiabatic body.

DISCLOSURE Technical Problem

Embodiments provide a vacuum adiabatic body in which difficulty in workis solved at a portion at which a heat exchange pipeline passes througha vacuum space part, and the number of penetrated portions is reduced.

Embodiments also provide a vacuum adiabatic body in which a gasgenerated from a welding part of two pipelines constituting the heatexchange pipeline does not have an influence on an inner space of avacuum space part.

Embodiments also provide a vacuum adiabatic body in which a pressureloss of a refrigerant due to sharp bending of a heat exchange pipelineis reduced.

Embodiments also provide a vacuum adiabatic body in which leakage anddifficulty of work, which occur due to heterogeneous welding between aheat exchange pipeline and a vacuum space part, are solved.

Embodiments also provide a vacuum adiabatic body in which a heatexchange pipeline is easily installed, and vacuum breakage within thevacuum adiabatic body or a destruction of a vacuum state of a vacuumspace is prevented at first or when installed.

Technical Solution

In one embodiment, a refrigerator may include a heat exchange pipelineincluding at least two pipeline passing through a first plate member anda second plate member to allow a refrigerant to move to internal andexternal spaces and a through-part or opening which is provided in atleast one of the first plate member and the second plate member andthrough which the refrigerant pipe passes. A sealing member may beconfigured to accommodate the refrigerant pipe therein, may be coupledto at least one of the first plate member and the second plate member,and may be made of a material having a thermal conductivity less thanthat of each of the first plate member and the second plate member.

Since the heat exchange is not exposed to the vacuum space part, thevacuum space part may not be adversely affected, and vacuum performancemay be improved.

In another embodiment, a refrigerator may include a refrigerant pipewhich passes through a through-part or opening of a first plate memberand a through-part or opening of a second plate member. A refrigerantmoves through the openings to a first space and a second space. Athrough sealing part or assembly may be configured to accommodate orreceive the refrigerant pipe therein and seal the pair of through-partsso as to block conduction of cold air between the first space and thesecond space.

Thus, cold air loss prevention performance may be improved.

In further another embodiment, a refrigerator includes a through-part oropening which is provided in at least one of the first plate member orthe second plate member and through which the refrigerant pipe passes. Asealing member may be configured to accommodate the refrigerant pipe andmay be made of a material having a thermal conductivity less than thatof each of the first plate member and the second plate member. Thesealing member is supported by at least one of the first plate member orthe second plate member, prevents cold air of the first space fromleaking to the second space, and allows the refrigerant pipe to bespaced apart from the first plate member and the second plate member.

Thus, a heat loss or transfer may be reduced, a lifespan of a productmay increase, and breakage of the vacuum space may be prevented.

Advantageous Effects

According to the embodiment, the number of through-parts or openingsthrough which the heat exchange pipeline passes through the vacuum spacepart may be reduced to one, and the through-part may be sealed by theseparate conductive resistance sheet. Thus, the heat loss may bereduced, and also, the fear of vacuum breakage of or a loss of a vacuumstate in the vacuum space part may be also reduced.

According to the embodiment, since the heat exchange pipeline is notexposed to the vacuum space part, the increase of the gas within thevacuum space part due to the heat exchange pipeline may be prevented orreduced to improve the lifespan of the product.

According to the embodiment, since there is no need to unreasonably bendthe heat exchange pipeline in the vacuum space part, the pressure lossof the refrigerant due to the unexpected deformation of the refrigerantpipeline may be reduced.

According to the embodiment, the installation work of the heat exchangepipeline may be easy, and the reliability of the sealing maintenance ofthe vacuum space part may be improved.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to anembodiment.

FIG. 2 is a view schematically showing a vacuum adiabatic body used in amain body and a door of the refrigerator.

FIGS. 3A and 3B shows view illustrating various embodiments of aninternal configuration of a vacuum space part.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating results obtained by examining resins.

FIG. 5 illustrates results obtained by performing an experiment onvacuum maintenance performances of resins.

FIGS. 6A-6C illustrate results obtained by analyzing components of gasesdischarged from a PPS and a low outgassing PC.

FIG. 7 illustrates results obtained by measuring maximum deformationtemperatures at which resins are damaged by atmospheric pressure inhigh-temperature exhaustion.

FIGS. 8A-8C are views showing various embodiments of conductiveresistance sheets and peripheral parts thereof.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a configuration of an installation part ofthe heat exchange pipeline according to an embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a view of a refrigerant to which the installation part of theheat exchange pipeline of FIG. 9 is applied according to an embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a conceptual view of the embodiment of FIG. 10 with respectto a path of the heat exchange pipeline.

FIG. 12 is a view of a refrigerant to which an installation part of aheat exchange pipeline is applied according to another embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a conceptual view of the embodiment of FIG. 12 with respectto a path of the heat exchange pipeline.

FIG. 14 is a view of a refrigerant to which an installation part of aheat exchange pipeline is applied according to further anotherembodiment.

FIG. 15 is a conceptual view of the embodiment of FIG. 14 with respectto a path of the heat exchange pipeline.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a view illustrating an arrangement of the heat exchangepipeline in which a limitation of FIG. 16 is solved.

FIG. 18 is a view for explaining an adiabatic structure of the heatexchange pipeline provided in FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is a view for explaining another example of the adiabaticstructure of the heat exchange pipeline of FIG. 17.

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of athrough sealing part.

FIGS. 21A, 21B, 22A, and 22B are views illustrating a process ofmanufacturing the through sealing part.

FIGS. 23 to 26 are views illustrating a mutual relationship between thethrough sealing part and the pipeline adiabatic part.

FIGS. 27 and 28 are views of a through sealing part or assemblyaccording to another embodiment.

FIGS. 29 to 40 are views illustrating various embodiments in which theheat exchange pipeline is installed according to various refrigeratorsto which the vacuum adiabatic body is applied.

MODE FOR INVENTION

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments will be described with reference tothe accompanying drawings. The invention may, however, be embodied inmany different forms and should not be construed as being limited to theembodiments set forth herein, and a person of ordinary skill in the art,who understands the spirit of the present invention, may readilyimplement other embodiments included within the scope of the sameconcept by adding, changing, deleting, and adding components; rather, itwill be understood that they are also included within the scope of thepresent invention.

The drawings shown below may be displayed differently from the actualproduct, or exaggerated or simple or detailed parts may be deleted, butthis is intended to facilitate understanding of the technical idea ofthe present invention. It should not be construed as limited.

The number of each of the components illustrated together with thedrawings facilitates the understanding of the inventive concept byassigning the same or similar number to the same or similar component infunction. Similarly, in the case of performing the same or similarfunction in function even if the embodiments are different, the same orsimilar number is assigned to facilitate the understanding of theinvention.

In the accompanying drawings for providing further understanding of theinvention, the same reference numeral will be given to the same memberin each of the drawings. This is to avoid duplicated explanations in theunderstanding of the idea of the invention and focus on the differencesbetween the technologies.

In the following description, the vacuum pressure means any pressurestate lower than the atmospheric pressure. In addition, the expressionthat a vacuum degree of A is higher than that of B means that a vacuumpressure of A is lower than that of B.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to anembodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1, the refrigerator 1 includes a main body 2 providedwith a cavity 9 capable of storing storage goods and a door 3 providedto open or close the main body 2. The door 3 may be rotatably orslidably movably provided to open or close the cavity 9. The cavity 9may provide at least one of a refrigerating compartment and a freezingcompartment.

The cavity 9 may be supplied with parts or devices of a refrigeration ora freezing cycle in which cold air is supplied into the cavity 9. Forexample, the parts may include a compressor 4 to compress a refrigerant,a condenser 5 to condense the compressed refrigerant, an expander 6 toexpand the condensed refrigerant, and an evaporator 7 to evaporate theexpanded refrigerant to take heat. As a typical structure, a fan may beinstalled at a position adjacent to the evaporator 7, and a fluid blownfrom the fan may pass through the evaporator 7 and then be blown intothe cavity 9. A freezing load is controlled by adjusting the blowingamount and blowing direction by the fan, adjusting the amount of acirculated refrigerant, or adjusting the compression rate of thecompressor, so that it is possible to control a refrigerating space or afreezing space.

FIG. 2 is a view schematically showing a vacuum adiabatic body used inthe main body 2 and the door 3 of the refrigerator 1. In FIG. 2, a mainbody-side vacuum adiabatic body is illustrated in a state in which topand side walls are removed, and a door-side vacuum adiabatic body isillustrated in a state in which a portion of a front wall is removed. Inaddition, sections of portions at conductive resistance sheets 60 or 63are provided are schematically illustrated for convenience ofunderstanding.

Referring to FIG. 2, the vacuum adiabatic body may include a first platemember 10 to provide a wall of a low-temperature space or a first space,a second plate member 20 to provide a wall of a high-temperature spaceor a second space, and a vacuum space part or a third space 50 definedas a gap between the first and second plate members 10 and 20. Also, thevacuum adiabatic body includes the conductive resistance sheets 60 and63 to prevent heat conduction between the first and second plate members10 and 20. A sealing or welding part 61 may seal the conductiveresistance sheets 60 and 63 to the first and second plate members 10 and20 such that the vacuum space part 50 is in a sealed or vacuum state.

When the vacuum adiabatic body is applied to a refrigerator or a warmingapparatus, the first plate member 10 providing a wall of an internal orinner space of the refrigerator may be referred to as an inner case, andthe second plate member 20 providing a wall of an outer space of therefrigerator may be referred to as an outer case.

A machine room 8 may include parts providing a refrigerating or afreezing cycle. The machine room may be placed at a lower rear side ofthe main body-side vacuum adiabatic body, and an exhaust port 40 to forma vacuum state by exhausting air from the vacuum space part 50 isprovided at any one side of the vacuum adiabatic body. In addition, apipeline 64 passing through the vacuum space part 50 may be furtherinstalled so as to install a defrosting water line and electric lines.

The first plate member 10 may define at least one portion of a wall fora first space provided thereto. The second plate member 20 may define atleast one portion of a wall for a second space provided thereto. Thefirst space and the second space may be defined as spaces havingdifferent temperatures. Here, the wall for each space may serve as notonly a wall directly contacting the space but also a wall not contactingthe space. For example, the vacuum adiabatic body of the embodiment mayalso be applied to a product further having a separate wall contactingeach space.

Factors of heat transfer, which cause loss of the adiabatic effect ofthe vacuum adiabatic body, are thermal or heat conduction between thefirst and second plate members 10 and 20, heat radiation between thefirst and second plate members 10 and 20, and gas conduction of thevacuum space part 50.

Hereinafter, a heat resistance unit or sheet provided to reduceadiabatic loss related to the factors of the heat transfer will beprovided. The vacuum adiabatic body and the refrigerator of theembodiment do not exclude that another adiabatic means is furtherprovided to at least one side of the vacuum adiabatic body. Therefore,an adiabatic means using foaming or the like may be further provided toanother side of the vacuum adiabatic body.

The heat resistance unit may include a conductive resistance sheet 60 or63 that resists conduction of heat transferred along a wall of a thirdspace 50 and may further include a side frame coupled to the conductiveresistance sheet. The conductive resistance sheet 60 or 63 and the sideframe will be clarified by the following description.

Also, the heat resistance unit may include at least one radiationresistance sheet 32 that is provided in a plate shape within the thirdspace 50 or may include a porous material that resists radiation heattransfer between the second plate member 20 and the first plate member10 within the third space 50. The radiation resistance sheet 32 and theporous material will be clarified by the following description.

FIGS. 3A-3B are views illustrating various embodiments of an internalconfiguration of the vacuum space part or third space 50.

First, referring to FIG. 3A, the vacuum space part 50 may have apressure different from that of each of the first and second spaces,such as in a vacuum state, thereby reducing an adiabatic loss. Thevacuum space part 50 may be provided at a temperature between thetemperature of the first space and the temperature of the second space.Since the vacuum space part 50 is provided as a space in the vacuumstate, the first and second plate members 10 and 20 receive a forcecontracted in a direction in which they approach each other due to aforce corresponding to a pressure difference between the first andsecond spaces. Therefore, the vacuum space part 50 may be deformed in adirection in which it is reduced. In this case, the adiabatic loss maybe caused due to an increase in amount of heat radiation, caused by thecontraction of the vacuum space part 50, and an increase in amount ofthermal or heat conduction, caused by contact between the plate members10 and 20.

The supporting unit or support 30 may be provided to reduce deformationof the vacuum space part 50. The supporting unit 30 includes a bar 31.The bar 31 may extend in a substantially vertical direction with respectto the plate members 10 and 20 to support a distance between the firstplate member 10 and the second plate member 20. A support plate 35 maybe additionally provided on at least any one end of the bar 31. Thesupport plate 35 may connect at least two or more bars 31 to each otherto extend in a horizontal direction with respect to the first and secondplate members 10 and 20. The support plate 35 may be provided in a plateshape or may be provided in a lattice shape so that an area of thesupport plate contacting the first or second plate member 10 or 20decreases, thereby reducing heat transfer. The bars 31 and the supportplate 35 are fixed to each other at at least one portion, to be insertedtogether between the first and second plate members 10 and 20. Thesupport plate 35 contacts at least one of the first and second platemembers 10 and 20, thereby preventing deformation of the first andsecond plate members 10 and 20. In addition, based on the extendingdirection of the bars 31, a total sectional area of the support plate 35is provided to be greater than that of the bars 31, so that heattransferred through the bars 31 may be diffused through the supportplate 35.

A material of the supporting unit 30 will be described.

The supporting unit 30 may have a high compressive strength so as toendure the vacuum pressure, a low outgassing rate and a low waterabsorption rate so as to maintain the vacuum state, a low thermalconductivity so as to reduce the thermal conduction between the platemembers 10 and 20 and. Also, the supporting unit 30 may have a securecompressive strength at a high temperature so as to endure ahigh-temperature exhaust process, have an excellent machinability so asto be subjected to molding, and have a low cost for molding. Here, thetime required to perform the exhaust process takes about a few days.Hence, the time is reduced, thereby considerably improving fabricationcost and productivity. Therefore, the compressive strength is to besecured at the high temperature because an exhaust speed is increased asa temperature at which the exhaust process is performed becomes higher.The inventor has performed various examinations under theabove-described conditions.

First, ceramic or glass has a low outgassing rate and a low waterabsorption rate, but its machinability is remarkably lowered. Hence,ceramic and glass may not be used as the material of the supporting unit30. Resin may be considered as the material of the supporting unit 30.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating results obtained by examining resins.

Referring to FIG. 4, the present inventor has examined various resins,and most of the resins may not be used because their outgassing ratesand water absorption rates are remarkably high. Accordingly, the presentinventor has examined resins that approximately satisfy conditions ofthe outgassing rate and the water absorption rate. As a result,polyethylene (PE) may not be used due to its high outgassing rate andits low compressive strength. Polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE) maynot be used due to its remarkably high price. Polyether ether ketonePEEK may not be used due to its high outgassing rate. A resin selectedfrom the group consisting of polycarbonate (PC), glass fiber PC, lowoutgassing PC, polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), and liquid crystal polymer(LCP) may be used as the material of the supporting unit 30. However, anoutgassing rate of PC is 0.19, which is at a low level. Hence, as thetime required to perform baking in which exhaustion is performed byapplying heat is increased to a certain level, PC may be used as thematerial of the supporting unit 30.

The present inventor has found an optimal material by performing variousstudies on resins expected to be used inside the vacuum space part 50.Hereinafter, results of the performed studies will be described withreference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating results obtained by performing anexperiment on vacuum maintenance performances of the resins.

Referring to FIG. 5, there is illustrated a graph showing resultsobtained by fabricating the supporting unit 30 using the respectiveresins and then testing vacuum maintenance performances of the resins.First, a supporting unit 30 fabricated using a selected material wascleaned using ethanol, left at a low pressure for 48 hours, exposed tothe air for 2.5 hours, and then subjected to an exhaust process at 90°C. for about 50 hours in a state where the supporting unit 30 was put inthe vacuum adiabatic body, thereby measuring a vacuum maintenanceperformance of the supporting unit 30.

An initial exhaust performance of LCP is best, but its vacuummaintenance performance is bad. This may be caused by sensitivity of theLCP to temperature. Also, it is expected through characteristics of thegraph that, when a final allowable pressure is 5×10⁻³ Torr, its vacuumperformance will be maintained for a time of about 0.5 years. Therefore,the LCP may not be used as the material of the supporting unit 30.

Regarding glass fiber PC (G/F PC), its exhaust speed is fast, but itsvacuum maintenance performance is low. It is determined that this willbe influenced by an additive. Also, it is expected through thecharacteristics of the graph that the glass fiber PC will maintain itsvacuum performance under the same conditions for a time of about 8.2years. Therefore, PC (G/F PC) may not be used as the material of thesupporting unit 30.

It is expected that, in the case of the low outgassing PC (O/G PC), itsvacuum maintenance performance is excellent, and its vacuum performancewill be maintained under the same conditions for a time of about 34years, as compared with the above-described two materials. However, itmay be seen that the initial exhaust performance of the low outgassingPC is low, and therefore, the fabrication efficiency of the lowoutgassing PC is lowered.

It may be seen that, in the case of the PPS, its vacuum maintenanceperformance is remarkably excellent, and its exhaust performance is alsoexcellent. Based on the vacuum maintenance performance, PPS may be usedas the material of the supporting unit 30.

FIGS. 6A-6C illustrate results obtained by analyzing components of gasesdischarged from the PPS and the low outgassing PC, in which thehorizontal axis represents mass numbers of gases and the vertical axisrepresents concentrations of gases. FIG. 6A illustrates a resultobtained by analyzing a gas discharged from the low outgassing PC. InFIG. 6A, it may be seen that hydrogen or H₂ series (I), water or H₂Oseries (II), dinitrogen/carbon monoxide/carbon dioxide/oxygen orN₂/CO/CO₂/O₂ series (III), and hydrocarbon series (IV) are equallydischarged. FIG. 6B illustrates a result obtained by analyzing a gasdischarged from the PPS. In FIG. 6B, it may be seen that the H₂ series(I), H₂O series (II), and N₂/CO/CO₂/O₂ series (III) are discharged to aweak extent. FIG. 6C is a result obtained by analyzing a gas dischargedfrom stainless steel. In FIG. 6C, it may be seen that a similar gas tothe PPS is discharged from the stainless steel. Consequently, it may beseen that the PPS discharges a similar gas to the stainless steel.

As the analyzed result, it may be re-confirmed that the PPS is excellentas the material of the supporting unit 30.

To further reinforce the strength of the supporting unit 30, a materialadded with glass fiber (G/F) of several tens %, such as G/F of 40%together with the PPS, may be used. To further increase in strength of aPPS+G/F 40% material used in the supporting unit 30, the PPS+G/F 40%material may be further subjected to a crystallization process (leftunder an atmosphere of 150° C. or more for about 1 hour) as apost-treatment process after injection.

FIG. 7 illustrates results obtained by measuring maximum deformationtemperatures at which resins are damaged by atmospheric pressure inhigh-temperature exhaustion. At this time, the bars 31 were provided ata diameter of 2 mm at a distance of 30 mm. Referring to FIG. 7, it maybe seen that a rupture occurs at 60° C. in the case of the PE, a ruptureoccurs at 90° C. in the case of the low outgassing PC, and a ruptureoccurs at 125° C. in the case of the PPS.

As the analyzed result, it may be seen that the PPS may be used as theresin used inside the vacuum space part 50. However, the low outgassingPC may be used in terms of fabrication cost.

Referring back to FIG. 3A, a radiation resistance sheet 32 to reduceheat radiation between the first and second plate members 10 and 20through the vacuum space part 50 will be described. The first and secondplate members 10 and 20 may be made of a stainless material capable ofpreventing corrosion and providing a sufficient strength. The stainlessmaterial has a relatively high emissivity of 0.16, and hence a largeamount of radiation heat may be transferred. In addition, the supportingunit 30 made of the resin has a lower emissivity than the plate members,and is not entirely provided to inner surfaces of the first and secondplate members 10 and 20. Hence, the supporting unit 30 does not havegreat influence on radiation heat. Therefore, the radiation resistancesheet 32 may be provided in a plate shape over a majority of the area ofthe vacuum space part 50 so as to concentrate on reduction of radiationheat transferred between the first and second plate members 10 and 20. Aproduct having a low emissivity may be used as the material of theradiation resistance sheet 32. In an embodiment, an aluminum foil havingan emissivity of 0.02 may be used as the radiation resistance sheet 32.Also, since the transfer of radiation heat may not be sufficientlyblocked using one radiation resistance sheet 32, at least two radiationresistance sheets 32 may be provided at a certain distance so as not tocontact each other. Also, at least one radiation resistance sheet 32 maybe provided in a state in which it contacts the inner surface of thefirst or second plate member 10 or 20.

Referring to FIG. 3B, the distance between the plate members 10 and 20is maintained by the supporting unit 30, and a porous material 33 may befilled in the vacuum space part 50. The porous material 33 may have ahigher emissivity than the stainless material of the first and secondplate members 10 and 20. However, since the porous material 33 is filledin the vacuum space part 50, the porous material 33 has a highefficiency for resisting the radiation heat transfer.

In the present embodiment, the vacuum adiabatic body may be manufacturedwithout the radiation resistance sheet 32.

Referring to FIG. 3C, the supporting unit 30 to maintain the vacuumspace part 50 may not be provided. A porous material 333 may be providedto be surrounded by a film 34 instead of the supporting unit 30. Here,the porous material 33 may be provided in a state of being compressed sothat the gap of the vacuum space part 50 is maintained. The film 34 madeof, for example, a PE material provided in a state in which a hole ispunched in the film 34.

In the present embodiment, the vacuum adiabatic body may be manufacturedwithout the supporting unit 30. That is to say, the porous material 33may perform the function of the radiation resistance sheet 32 and thefunction of the supporting unit 30 together.

FIGS. 8A-8C are views showing various embodiments of conductiveresistance sheets 60 or 63 and peripheral parts thereof. Structures ofthe conductive resistance sheets 60 or 63 are briefly illustrated inFIG. 2, but will be understood in detail with reference to the drawings.

First, a conductive resistance sheet 60 proposed in FIG. 8A may beapplied to the main body-side vacuum adiabatic body. Specifically, thefirst and second plate members 10 and 20 may be sealed so as tovacuumize the interior of the vacuum adiabatic body. In this case, sincethe first and second plate members 10 and 20 have different temperaturesfrom each other, heat transfer may occur between the first and secondplate members 10 and 20. A conductive resistance sheet 60 is provided toprevent heat conduction between two different kinds of plate members 10and 20.

The conductive resistance sheet 60 may be provided with sealing orwelding parts 61 at which both ends of the conductive resistance sheet60 are sealed to define at least one portion of the wall for the thirdspace or vacuum space part 50 and maintain the vacuum state. Theconductive resistance sheet 60 may be provided as a thin foil in unit ofmicrometer so as to reduce the amount of heat conducted along the wallfor the vacuum space part 50. The sealing parts 610 may be provided aswelding parts, and the conductive resistance sheet 60 and the platemembers 10 and 20 may be fused to each other. In order to cause a fusingaction between the conductive resistance sheet 60 and the first andsecond plate members 10 and 20, the conductive resistance sheet 60 andthe first and second plate members 10 and 20 may be made of the samematerial (e.g., a stainless material). The sealing parts 610 are notlimited to the welding parts, and may be provided through a process suchas cocking. The conductive resistance sheet 60 may be provided in acurved shape. Thus, a thermal conduction distance of the conductiveresistance sheet 60 is provided longer than the linear distance of eachplate member 10 and 20, so that the amount of thermal conduction may befurther reduced.

A change in temperature occurs along the conductive resistance sheet 60.Therefore, in order to block heat transfer to the exterior of theconductive resistance sheet 60, a shielding part or cover 62 may beprovided at the exterior of the conductive resistance sheet 60 such thatan adiabatic action occurs. In other words, in the refrigerator 1, thesecond plate member 20 has a high temperature and the first plate member10 has a low temperature. In addition, thermal conduction from hightemperature to low temperature occurs in the conductive resistance sheet60, and hence the temperature of the conductive resistance sheet 60 issuddenly changed. Therefore, when the conductive resistance sheet 60 isopened to the exterior thereof, heat transfer through the opened placemay seriously occur. In order to reduce heat loss, the shielding part 62is provided at the exterior of the conductive resistance sheet 60. Forexample, when the conductive resistance sheet 60 is exposed to any oneof the low-temperature space and the high-temperature space, theconductive resistance sheet 60 may not serve as a conductive resistor atthe exposed portion.

The shielding part 62 may be provided as a porous material contacting anouter surface of the conductive resistance sheet 60. The shielding part62 may be provided as an adiabatic structure, e.g., a separate gasket,which is placed at the exterior of the conductive resistance sheet 60.The shielding part 62 may be provided as a portion of the vacuumadiabatic body, which is provided at a position facing a correspondingconductive resistance sheet 60 when the main body-side vacuum adiabaticbody is closed with respect to the door-side vacuum adiabatic body. Inorder to reduce heat loss even when the main body 2 and the door 3 areopened, the shielding part 62 may be provided as a porous material or aseparate adiabatic structure.

A conductive resistance sheet 60 proposed in FIG. 8B may be applied tothe door-side vacuum adiabatic body. In FIG. 8B, portions different fromthose of FIG. 8A are described in detail, and the same description isapplied to portions identical to those of FIG. 8A. A side frame 70 isfurther provided at an outside of the conductive resistance sheet 60. Apart or seal to seal between the door 3 and the main body 2, an exhaustport necessary for an exhaust process, a getter port for vacuummaintenance, and the like may be placed on the side frame 70. This isbecause the mounting of parts is convenient in the main body-side vacuumadiabatic body, but the mounting positions of parts are limited in thedoor-side vacuum adiabatic body.

In the door-side vacuum adiabatic body, it is difficult to place theconductive resistance sheet 60 at a front end portion of the vacuumspace part 50, i.e., a corner side portion of the vacuum space part 50.This is because, unlike the main body 2, a corner edge portion of thedoor 3 is exposed to the exterior. In more detail, if the conductiveresistance sheet 60 is placed at the front end portion of the vacuumspace part 50, the corner edge portion of the door 3 is exposed to theexterior, and hence there is a disadvantage in that a separate adiabaticpart should be configured so as to thermally insulate the conductiveresistance sheet 60.

A conductive resistance sheet 63 proposed in FIG. 8C may be installed inthe pipeline 64 passing through the vacuum space part 50. In FIG. 8C,portions different from those of FIGS. 8A and 8 b are described indetail, and the same description is applied to portions identical tothose of FIGS. 8A and 8B. A conductive resistance sheet 63 having asimilar shape as that of FIG. 8A, such as a wrinkled or zig-zagconductive resistance sheet 63, may be provided at a peripheral portionof the pipeline 64. Accordingly, a heat transfer path may be lengthened,and deformation caused by a pressure difference may be prevented. Inaddition, a separate shielding part may be provided to improve theadiabatic performance of the conductive resistance sheet.

A heat transfer path between the first and second plate members 10 and20 will be described with reference back to FIG. 8A. Heat passingthrough the vacuum adiabatic body may be divided into surface conductionheat {circle around (1)} conducted along a surface of the vacuumadiabatic body, more specifically, the conductive resistance sheet 60,supporter conduction heat {circle around (2)} conducted along thesupporting unit 30 provided inside the vacuum adiabatic body, gasconduction heat {circle around (3)} conducted through an internal gas inthe vacuum space part, and radiation transfer heat {circle around (4)}transferred through the vacuum space part.

The transfer heat may be changed depending on various depending onvarious design dimensions. For example, the supporting unit 30 may bechanged such that the first and second plate members 10 and 20 mayendure a vacuum pressure without being deformed, the vacuum pressure maybe changed, the distance between the first and second plate members 10and 20 may be changed, and the length of the conductive resistance sheet60 or 63 may be changed. The transfer heat may be changed depending on adifference in temperature between the spaces (the first and secondspaces) respectively provided by the plate members 10 and 20. In theembodiment, a configuration of the vacuum adiabatic body has been foundby considering that its total heat transfer amount is smaller than thatof a typical adiabatic structure formed by foaming polyurethane. In atypical refrigerator including the adiabatic structure formed by foamingthe polyurethane, an effective heat transfer coefficient may be proposedas 19.6 mW/mK.

By performing a relative analysis on heat transfer amounts of the vacuumadiabatic body of the embodiment, a heat transfer amount by the gasconduction heat {circle around (3)} may become the smallest. Forexample, the heat transfer amount by the gas conduction heat {circlearound (3)} may be controlled to be equal to or smaller than 4% of thetotal heat transfer amount. A heat transfer amount by solid conductionheat defined as a sum of the surface conduction heat {circle around (1)}and the supporter conduction heat {circle around (2)} is the largest.For example, the heat transfer amount by the solid conduction heat mayreach 75% of the total heat transfer amount. A heat transfer amount bythe radiation transfer heat {circle around (3)} is smaller than the heattransfer amount by the solid conduction heat but larger than the heattransfer amount of the gas conduction heat. For example, the heattransfer amount by the radiation transfer heat {circle around (3)} mayoccupy about 20% of the total heat transfer amount.

According to such a heat transfer distribution, effective heat transfercoefficients (eK: effective K) (W/mK) of the surface conduction heat{circle around (1)}, the supporter conduction heat {circle around (2)},the gas conduction heat {circle around (3)}, and the radiation transferheat {circle around (4)} may have an order of Math Equation 1.

eK_(solid conduction heat)>eK_(radiation transfer heat)>eK_(gas conduction heat)  Equation 1

Here, the effective heat transfer coefficient (eK) is a value that maybe measured using a shape and temperature differences of a targetproduct. The effective heat transfer coefficient (eK) is a value thatmay be obtained by measuring a total heat transfer amount and atemperature at least one portion at which heat is transferred. Forexample, a calorific value (W) is measured using a heating source thatmay be quantitatively measured in the refrigerator, a temperaturedistribution (K) of the door is measured using heats respectivelytransferred through a main body and an edge of the door of therefrigerator, and a path through which heat is transferred is calculatedas a conversion value (m), thereby evaluating an effective heat transfercoefficient.

The effective heat transfer coefficient (eK) of the entire vacuumadiabatic body is a value given by k=QL/AΔT. Here, Q denotes a calorificvalue (W) and may be obtained using a calorific value of a heater. Adenotes a sectional area (m²) of the vacuum adiabatic body, L denotes athickness (m) of the vacuum adiabatic body, and ΔT denotes a temperaturedifference.

For the surface conduction heat, a conductive calorific value may beobtained through a temperature difference (AT) between an entrance andan exit of the conductive resistance sheet 60 or 63, a sectional area(A) of the conductive resistance sheet, a length (L) of the conductiveresistance sheet 60 or 63, and a thermal conductivity (k) of theconductive resistance sheet 60 or 63 (the thermal conductivity of theconductive resistance sheet is a material property of a material and maybe obtained in advance). For the supporter conduction heat, a conductivecalorific value may be obtained through a temperature difference (ΔT)between an entrance and an exit of the supporting unit 30, a sectionalarea (A) of the supporting unit 30, a length (L) of the supporting unit30, and a thermal conductivity (k) of the supporting unit 30. Here, thethermal conductivity of the supporting unit 30 is a material property ofa material and may be obtained in advance. The sum of the gas conductionheat {circle around (3)}, and the radiation transfer heat {circle around(4)} may be obtained by subtracting the surface conduction heat and thesupporter conduction heat from the heat transfer amount of the entirevacuum adiabatic body. A ratio of the gas conduction heat {circle around(3)}, and the radiation transfer heat {circle around (4)} may beobtained by evaluating radiation transfer heat when no gas conductionheat exists by remarkably lowering a vacuum degree of the vacuum spacepart 50.

When a porous material is provided inside the vacuum space part 50,porous material conduction heat {circle around (5)} may be a sum of thesupporter conduction heat {circle around (2)} and the radiation transferheat {circle around (4)}. The porous material conduction heat may bechanged depending on various variables including a kind, an amount, andthe like of the porous material.

According to an embodiment, a temperature difference ΔT₁ between ageometric center formed by adjacent bars 31 and a point at which each ofthe bars 31 is located may be provided to be less than 0.5° C. Also, atemperature difference ΔT₂ between the geometric center formed by theadjacent bars 31 and an edge portion of the vacuum adiabatic body may beprovided to be less than 0.5° C. In the second plate member 20, atemperature difference between an average temperature of the secondplate member 20 and a temperature at a point at which a heat transferpath passing through the conductive resistance sheet 60 or 63 meets thesecond plate member 20 may be the largest. For example, when the secondspace is a region hotter than the first space, the temperature at thepoint at which the heat transfer path passing through the conductiveresistance sheet 60 or 63 meets the second plate member 20 becomeslowest. Similarly, when the second space is a region colder than thefirst space, the temperature at the point at which the heat transferpath passing through the conductive resistance sheet 60 or 63 meets thesecond plate member 20 becomes highest.

This means that the amount of heat transferred through other pointsexcept the surface conduction heat passing through the conductiveresistance sheet 60 or 63 should be controlled, and the entire heattransfer amount satisfying the vacuum adiabatic body may be achievedonly when the surface conduction heat occupies the largest heat transferamount. To this end, a temperature variation of the conductiveresistance sheet 60 or 63 may be controlled to be larger than that ofthe plate members 10 and 20.

Physical characteristics of the parts constituting the vacuum adiabaticbody will be described. In the vacuum adiabatic body, a force by vacuumpressure is applied to all of the parts. Therefore, a material having astrength (N/m²) of a certain level may be used.

Under such conditions, the plate members 10 and 20 and the side frame 70may be made of a material having a sufficient strength with which theyare not damaged by even vacuum pressure. For example, when the number ofbars 31 is decreased so as to limit the support conduction heat,deformation of the plate members 10 and 20 may occur due to the vacuumpressure, which may bad influence on the external appearance ofrefrigerator. The radiation resistance sheet 32 may be made of amaterial that has a low emissivity and may be easily subjected to thinfilm processing. Also, the radiation resistance sheet 32 is to ensure astrength strong enough not to be deformed by an external impact. Thesupporting unit 30 is provided with a strength strong enough to supportthe force by the vacuum pressure and endure an external impact, and isto have machinability. The conductive resistance sheet 60 may be made ofa material that has a thin plate shape and may endure the vacuumpressure.

In an embodiment, the plate members 10 and 20, the side frame 70, andthe conductive resistance sheet 60 or 63 may be made of stainlessmaterials having the same strength. The radiation resistance sheet 32may be made of aluminum having a weaker strength that the stainlessmaterials. The supporting unit 30 may be made of resin having a weakerstrength than the aluminum.

Unlike the strength from the point of view of materials, analysis fromthe point of view of stiffness is required. The stiffness (N/m) is aproperty that would not be easily deformed. Although the same materialis used, its stiffness may be changed depending on its shape. Theconductive resistance sheets 60 or 63 may be made of a material having ahigh or predetermined strength, but the stiffness of the material may below so as to increase heat resistance and minimize radiation heat as theconductive resistance sheet 60 or 63 is uniformly spread without anyroughness when the vacuum pressure is applied. The radiation resistancesheet 32 requires a stiffness of a certain level so as not to contactanother part due to deformation. Particularly, an edge portion of theradiation resistance sheet 32 may generate conduction heat due todrooping caused by the self-load of the radiation resistance sheet 32.Therefore, a stiffness of a certain level is required. The supportingunit 30 may require a stiffness strong enough to endure a compressivestress from the plate members 10 and 20 and an external impact.

In an embodiment, the plate members 10 and 20 and the side frame 70 mayhave the highest stiffness so as to prevent deformation caused by thevacuum pressure. The supporting unit 30, particularly, the bar 31 mayhave the second highest stiffness. The radiation resistance sheet 32 mayhave a stiffness that is lower than that of the supporting unit 30 buthigher than that of the conductive resistance sheet 60 or 63. Lastly,the conductive resistance sheet 60 or 63 may be made of a material thatis easily deformed by the vacuum pressure and has the lowest stiffness.

Even when the porous material 33 is filled in the vacuum space part 50,the conductive resistance sheet 60 or 63 may have the lowest stiffness,and the plate members 10 and 20 and the side frame 70 may have thehighest stiffness.

The vacuum space part 50 may resist heat transfer by only the supportingunit 30. Here, a porous material 33 may be filled with the supportingunit 30 inside the vacuum space part 50 to resist to the heat transfer.The heat transfer to the porous material 33 may resist without applyingthe supporting unit 30.

In the above description, as a material suitable for the supporting unit30, a resin of PPS has been proposed. The bar 31 is provided on thesupport plate 35 at gaps of 2 cm to 3 cm, and the bar 31 has a height of1 cm to 2 cm. These resins often have poor fluidity of the resin duringthe molding. In many cases, the molded article does not have thedesigned value. Particularly, the shape of a molded product such as abar 31 having a short length is often not provided properly due tonon-uniform injection of resin into a part far from the liquid injectionport of the liquid.

This may cause damage of the supporting unit 30 or a defective vacuumadiabatic body later.

The supporting unit 30 is a substantially two-dimensional structure, butits area is considerably large. Therefore, if a defect occurs in one ofthe portions, it is difficult to discard the entire structure. Thislimitation becomes even more pronounced as refrigerators and warmingapparatus are becoming larger in size to meet the needs of consumers.

Referring to FIG. 9, the vacuum adiabatic body may be applied to themain body of the refrigerator. In this case, a refrigerant pipeconnecting the evaporator provided inside the refrigerator, i.e., in thefirst space, to the condenser provided outside the refrigerator, i.e.,in the second space, may pass through the vacuum adiabatic body. Therefrigerant pipe may be provided as a heat exchange pipeline 117.

The heat exchange pipeline 117 may be provided by bonding an inlet pipe171 through which the refrigerant is introduced into an evaporatorprovided in the refrigerator to an outlet pipe 172 through which therefrigerant is discharged from the evaporator. Two pipelines that arethe inlet pipe 171 and the outlet pipe 172 may be bonded to each otherthrough welding. The refrigerant flowing through the inlet pipe 171 andthe outlet pipe 172 may be heat-exchanged with each other to improveefficiency of a refrigeration cycle.

According to an embodiment, the heat exchange pipeline 117 may beprovided outside the vacuum space part 50. The heat exchange pipelinemay not be provided in the narrow vacuum space part 50 to prevent theheat exchange pipeline 117 from negatively impacting a vacuum state ofthe vacuum space part 50, and significant effort in installing the heatexchange pipeline 117 into the narrow vacuum space part 50 may beunnecessary.

In the following embodiments, the heat exchange pipeline refers to apipeline area on which an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe intensivelycontact each other to allow the refrigerant to be heat-exchanged witheach other. Although the heat exchange is performed in other areas foradditional heat exchange within the range of engineering margins, it maybe understood that an amount of heat exchange is relatively small. Insome cases, it is understood that the heat exchange pipeline isadditionally provided elsewhere, but in the embodiment, it is understoodthat the pipeline for the heat exchange is placed in a region that iscalled a heat exchange pipeline.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a configuration of an installation part ofthe heat exchange pipeline according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 9, the first plate member 10 and the second platemember 20 are provided, and a vacuum space part 50 is provided betweenthe plate members 10 and 20. The first plate member 10 may be used as alow-temperature side wall of the refrigerator, and the second platemember 20 may be used as a high-temperature side wall of therefrigerator.

A heat exchange pipeline 117 may pass through a wall of the vacuumadiabatic body. That is to say, the heat exchange pipeline 117 maylinearly pass through the first plate member 10, the vacuum space part50, and the second plate member 20 and then be withdrawn from one spaceto the other space with respect to the vacuum adiabatic body. The platemembers 10 and 20 through which the heat exchange pipeline 117 passesmay be the same point with respect to the vacuum adiabatic body. Theheat exchange pipeline 117 may not be disposed in the vacuum space part50. When the vacuum adiabatic body is applied to the refrigerator, thevacuum adiabatic body may be withdrawn from the inside to the outside ofthe refrigerator.

The through-part or opening through which the heat exchange pipeline 117passes through the wall of the vacuum adiabatic body may be sealed by athrough sealing part or sealing assembly 300. The through-part may bedefined as a portion in which the plate members 10 and 20 are opened sothat the refrigerant pipe passes therethrough. The heat exchangepipeline 117 may pass through the vacuum adiabatic body without vacuumbreakage of the vacuum space part 50 and the adiabatic loss by thethrough sealing part 300. The through sealing part 300 will be describedbelow in more detail with reference to other drawings.

The heat exchange pipeline 117 that is withdrawn to the outside may beconfigured so that an inlet pipe 171 and an outlet pipe 172 (FIG. 16)are heat-exchanged with each other in a predetermined space that ispartitioned from the outside by a pipeline adiabatic case 302. The heatexchange pipeline 117 may have a bent or rolled shape so that the heatexchange pipeline 117 is intensively heat-exchanged within the pipelineadiabatic case 302.

The inside of the pipeline adiabatic case 302 may be provided as or witha pipeline adiabatic part or space 301 so that the inlet pipe 171 andthe outlet pipe 172, which constitute the heat exchange pipeline 117(FIG. 16), are heat-exchanged with each other to prevent the adiabaticloss due to the heat exchange with the outside. The pipeline adiabaticpart 301 may perform an adiabatic function through vacuum, adiabaticfoam, and air that is blocked from the outside. Alternatively, since thepipeline adiabatic case 302 is partitioned into the inside and outsidethereof by itself, the pipeline adiabatic case 302 may perform theadiabatic function through the shielding.

The pipeline adiabatic case 302 may be installed on or at the secondplate member 20, and the outer surface of the second plate member 20 maybe provided as one wall of the pipeline adiabatic part 301. However,this embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, the pipelineadiabatic case 302 may be installed at a side of the first plate member10, and the inner surface of the first plate member 10 may be providedas one wall of the pipeline adiabatic part 301. However, in this case,the space within the refrigerator may be narrowed.

At least the through sealing part 300 may be provided inside thepipeline adiabatic part 301 and the pipeline adiabatic case 302. That isto say, the through sealing part 300 may not be exposed to the outsideand may be covered by the pipeline adiabatic part 301 and the pipelineadiabatic case 302.

The heat propagating along the heat exchange pipeline 117 may cause theadiabatic loss. For example, the vacuum breakage or disruption to avacuum state of the vacuum space part 50 may not occur by the throughsealing part 300, and an air flow to the outside of the refrigerator maybe blocked to reduce the adiabatic loss. However, a case in which heatconducted to the inside of the refrigerator along the heat exchangepipeline 117 by using the first plate member 10 as a boundary is notsufficiently blocked may occur in designing a refrigeration system. Inthis case, the pipeline adiabatic part 301 and the pipeline adiabaticcase 302 may be further installed at a side of the first plate member10. In some cases, a small-sized adiabatic member rather than alarge-sized configuration reaching the pipeline adiabatic part 301 andthe pipeline adiabatic case 302 may be implemented. It is to beunderstood that the adiabatic member is provided on both the platemembers 10 and 20 in the following other embodiments.

However, the adiabatic loss affected in the inside of the refrigeratormay be reduced by only the pipeline adiabatic part 301 and the pipelineadiabatic case 302, which are provided inside the second plate member20, through sufficient examination of the refrigeration system.

According to this embodiment, the influence exerted on the vacuum spacepart 50 by the heat exchange pipeline 117 may be reduced in thebeginning or at installation, and the limitation in which the vacuumadiabatic body is not repaired later due to the sealing of the vacuumadiabatic body may be solved.

FIG. 10 is a view of the refrigerant to which the installation part ofthe heat exchange pipeline of FIG. 9 is applied according to anembodiment. In the refrigerator of FIG. 10, the single vacuum adiabaticbody is divided into two spaces by a partition wall 350. The two spacesmay be opened and closed by separate doors, and a single evaporator maybe provided to supply cold air into the two spaces.

Referring to FIG. 10, a single main body 2 provided by the singleadiabatic body may be divided into two spaces, and the two spaces may beopened and closed by separate doors 3. The two spaces may operate in anupper-refrigerating and lower-freezing manner. The partition wall 350may be provided in at least one of a manner in which an adiabatic unitthat is a foaming member is filled or a shield manner in which an innerspace is shielded from the outside.

An evaporator 7 may be provided in the freezing space of the two spaces.The cold air supplied to the evaporator 7 may be supplied from the inletpipe 171 (FIG. 16) via a compressor 4 and a condenser 5. The inlet pipe171 may serve as an expansion device. A refrigerant evaporated in theevaporator 7 is discharged through the outlet pipe 172 (FIG. 16). It hasalready been explained that the heat exchange pipeline 117 in which theinlet pipe 171 and the outlet pipe 172 are exchanged with each other isprovided outside the refrigerator.

The heat exchange pipeline 117 is disposed in a separate space havingone surface extending along the outer surface of the vacuum adiabaticbody as a substantial wall outside the vacuum adiabatic body providingthe wall of the refrigerator. The heat exchange pipeline 117 may be thesame as the above-described heat exchange pipeline 117 in that thethermal insulation is realized by the pipeline adiabatic part 301 andthe pipeline adiabatic case 302 (FIG. 9).

A cold air passage 351 may be provided in the partition wall 350. Thecold air passage 351 may be a passage through which cold air generatedin the evaporator 7 is transferred from the space, in which theevaporator 7 is disposed, to the other space. To remove defrosting watergenerated in the evaporator 7 to the outside of the main body 2, adefrosting water pipeline 352 may be further provided in the vacuumadiabatic body.

The through sealing part 300 may be provided on a position at which theheat exchange pipeline 117 passes through the main body 2 to preventheat from being transferred to the inside and outside of therefrigerator. Also, the pipeline adiabatic part 301 and the pipelineadiabatic case 302 may cover the through sealing part 300 to more firmlyprevent the cold air from being lost.

In FIG. 10, a thick solid line indicates a copper pipe, which has aninner diameter of about 3 millimeters or more. A thin solid linerepresents a thin pipeline having a diameter of about 1 millimeter orless as a capillary.

FIG. 11 is a more clear conceptual view of the embodiment of FIG. 10with respect to a path of the heat exchange pipeline.

Referring to FIG. 11, the heat exchange pipeline 117 is shielded fromthe outside by the pipeline adiabatic part 301 and the pipelineadiabatic case 302, which are disposed on the outer surface of thevacuum adiabatic body 1. In this state, the inlet pipe 171 and theoutlet pipe 172 (FIG. 16), which constitute the heat exchange pipeline117, may be heat-exchanged with only each other to reduce the adiabaticloss.

The through sealing part 300 may be covered and protected by thepipeline adiabatic part 301 and the pipeline adiabatic case 302.

According to the above-described constituents, the heat exchangepipeline 117 may sufficiently generate thermal energy between thecondenser C and the evaporator E to reuse the thermal energy.

Since the heat exchange pipeline is not disposed in the vacuum spacepart 50, the vacuum breakage of the vacuum space part 50 and thedifficulty in repair of the heat exchange pipeline may be prevented inthe beginning.

FIG. 12 is a view of a refrigerant to which an installation part of aheat exchange pipeline is applied according to another embodiment. Otherconstituents according to an embodiment of FIG. 12 are the same as thoseaccording to an embodiment of FIG. 10 except for installation of a heatexchange pipeline and a peripheral portion of the heat exchangepipeline, and thus, non-explained constituents will be derived from thedescriptions of the embodiment of FIG. 10.

Referring to FIG. 12, a heat exchange pipeline 117 may be provided in apartition wall 350. For example, the heat exchange pipeline 117 may beprovided within the partition wall 350. The partition wall 350 isconfigured to thermally insulate two spaces within a main body 2. Thus,a separate adiabatic constituent, which is provided as only the heatexchange pipeline 117, for example, a pipeline adiabatic part 301 and apipeline adiabatic case 302 may not be separately provided. Theconstituents of the partition wall 350 may be provided as adiabaticconstituents of the heat exchange pipeline 117.

The heat exchange pipeline 117 connected to the evaporator 7 may performheat exchange between the inlet pipe 171 and the outlet pipe 172 (FIG.16) in the partition wall 350 and then be withdrawn to the outside of amain body 2 by passing through a through sealing part 300.

In this embodiment, it is unnecessary to separately provide the pipelineadiabatic part 301 and the pipeline adiabatic case 302 outside therefrigerator. Thus, the inner and outer spaces of the refrigerator maybe more efficiently utilized. In addition, since the adiabaticconstituents of the partition wall 350 are used together with theadiabatic constituents of the heat exchange pipeline 117, the spaceutilization may be improved.

FIG. 13 is a more clear conceptual view of the embodiment of FIG. 12with respect to a path of the heat exchange pipeline.

Referring to FIG. 13, the constituents of the partition wall 350 mayserve as the adiabatic constituents of the heat exchange pipeline 117,respectively. As an outer surface structure of the partition wall 350,an outer case made of a resin material may act as the pipeline adiabaticcase 302, and an adiabatic member made of a foamed resin materialprovided into the partition wall 350 may act as the pipeline adiabaticpart 301.

The inlet pipe 171 and the outlet pipe 172 (FIG. 16), which constitutethe heat exchange pipeline 117, may be heat-exchanged with only eachother to reduce a adiabatic loss.

The through sealing part 300 may be covered and protected by thepartition wall 350. As described above, a separate adiabatic structuremay be provided at a side of the second plate member 20 adjacent to thethrough sealing part 300.

According to the above-described constituents, the heat exchangepipeline 117 may sufficiently generate thermal energy between thecondenser C and the evaporator E to reuse the thermal energy.

According to the above-described constituents, since a constituent forseparately installing the heat exchange pipeline outside therefrigerator is not required, the configuration may be simplified, andthe refrigerator may be reduced in size. Alternatively, variousadvantages due to the absence of the heat exchange pipeline in thevacuum space part 50 may be obtained as in the previous embodiments.

FIG. 14 is a view of a refrigerant to which an installation part of aheat exchange pipeline is applied according to further anotherembodiment. Other constituents according to an embodiment of FIG. 14 arethe same as those according to an embodiment of FIGS. 10 and 12 exceptfor installation of a heat exchange pipeline and a peripheral portion ofthe heat exchange pipeline, and thus, non-explained constituents will bederived from the descriptions of the embodiment of FIGS. 10 and 12.

Referring to FIG. 14, in this embodiment, a heat exchange pipeline 117is disposed in a machine room 8. Since the heat exchange pipeline 117 isdisposed in an inner space of the machine room 8, the pipeline adiabaticpart 301 and the pipeline adiabatic case 302 may be provided tosufficiently perform heat exchange between the two pipelines disposed inthe heat exchange pipeline 117.

In this embodiment, a defrosting water pipeline 352 and a throughsealing part 300, which are required for driving an evaporator 7, may beachieved by a single through-structure. An inlet pipe 171, an outletpipe 172 (FIG. 16), and the defrosting water pipeline 352 may passtogether through the single through sealing part 300 through which thevacuum adiabatic body passes. Thus, according to another embodiment,since the single through-part sufficiently serves as the through-parts,which are disposed to be spaced apart from each other at two positions,the adiabatic loss may be reduced, and the fear of failure due to thevacuum breakage may be reduced.

In this embodiment, since the heat exchange pipeline 117 is installed inthe inner space of the machine room 8 (FIG. 2), the machine room 8 maybe efficiently utilized, and the refrigerator may not increase in size,thereby more efficiently utilizing a space outside the refrigerator.

FIG. 15 is a more clear conceptual view of the embodiment of FIG. 14with respect to a path of the heat exchange pipeline.

Referring to FIG. 15, the heat exchange pipeline 117 is disposed in theinner space of the machine room 8. The heat exchange pipeline 117 mayperform heat exchange between the inlet pipe 171 and the outlet pipe 172(FIG. 16) regardless of a thermal state of the machine room 8 (FIG. 2)by the pipeline adiabatic case 302 and the pipeline adiabatic part 301.

According to the above-described constituents, the heat exchangepipeline 117 may sufficiently generate thermal energy between thecondenser C and the evaporator E to reuse the thermal energy.Particularly, a distance between the evaporator E and the condenser Cmay decrease. Thus, an irreversible loss such as pressure drop due tothe unnecessary pipeline length may be reduced to improve efficiency ofthe refrigeration system, and an additional component for the insulationof the unnecessary pipeline may not be required.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a case in which a product is applied tothe embodiment proposed in FIG. 15.

Referring to FIG. 16, the pipeline adiabatic part 301 and the pipelineadiabatic case 302 are disposed in the machine room 8, and the heatexchange pipeline 117 is disposed in the pipeline adiabatic case 302.The heat exchange pipeline 117 may be bent in a zigzag shape and extendin a direction of a plane of the plate member to secure a path for theheat exchange.

The through sealing part 300 may pass through the vacuum adiabatic body,and the heat exchange pipeline 117 may pass through the inside of thethrough sealing part 300. Although the defrosting water pipeline 352(FIG. 14) passes through the through sealing part 300, this is notillustrated in the drawing.

The inlet pipe 171 providing one pipeline of the heat exchange pipeline117 may be connected to the condenser 5 within the machine room 8 as acapillary, and the outlet pipe 172 providing the other pipeline may beconnected to the compressor 4 as a copper pipeline having a largediameter.

In the embodiment of FIG. 16, when a temperature distribution of thepipeline adiabatic part 301 is observed, a temperature of the throughsealing part 300 is low, and also, a temperature gradually increases ina direction in which the heat exchange pipeline 117 extends to theinside of the pipeline adiabatic part 301. In detail, in FIG. 16, thetemperature of a right lower portion of the pipeline adiabatic part 301on which the through sealing part 300 is disposed may be the lowest, anda temperature of a left lower portion may be the highest. In theabove-described thermal arrangement, a non-uniform temperaturedistribution may occur in the pipeline adiabatic part 301 to deteriorateheat exchange efficiency of the heat exchange pipeline and significantlycause heat leakage.

FIG. 17 is a view illustrating an arrangement of the heat exchangepipeline in which the above-described limitation is solved.

Referring to FIG. 17, in the arrangement of the heat exchange pipeline117, the through sealing part 300 may be provided at a center of theheat exchange pipeline 117 or at an end passing through the vacuumadiabatic body. A pipeline connected to the evaporator E (FIG. 15) maymove through the through sealing part 300. In the arrangement of theheat exchange pipeline 117, the other point or end at which the heatexchange pipeline 117 is connected to the outside of the pipelineadiabatic part 301 may be provided at the outermost side. The heatexchange pipeline 117 may be wound in a spiral shape while graduallyincreasing in diameter with respect to a center of the through sealingpart 300. According to the above-described configuration, a temperatureof a central portion of the heat exchange pipeline 117 may be thelowest, and a temperature may gradually increase toward the outside.Thus, the pipeline adiabatic part 301 may have a uniform temperaturedistribution to improve heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchangepipeline and reduce a heat loss.

Since the inlet pipe 171 and the outlet pipe 172 (FIG. 16) generate acounter current flow in the heat exchange pipeline 117, a spacing partbetween the heat exchange pipelines 117 may be insulated by the pipelineadiabatic part 301 to prevent unnecessary heat exchange of the heatexchange pipeline 117 from occurring.

An arrow indicates a flow of an evaporated refrigerant flowing throughthe inside of the outlet pipe 172 that is withdrawn from the evaporatorE having a low temperature.

In the embodiment of FIG. 17, an arrangement of a central portion havingthe lowest temperature (where a thermal influence of the outlet pipe 172is most dominant) and the outermost portion having the highesttemperature (where a thermal influence of the inlet pipe 171 is mostdominant) may be optimized. In addition, the through sealing part 300 isdisposed at the central portion, which passes through the first andsecond plate members 10 and 20, and the heat exchange pipeline 117 maybe withdrawn to the outside while rotating or spiraling and have adiameter that gradually increases. The central portion may protrudeoutward from the spiral and be at one end of the spiral, while an outerportion, which may be at the other end of the spiral, passes through thepipeline adiabatic case 302. According to the arrangement of the heatexchange pipeline 117, the temperature distribution of the pipelineadiabatic part 301 may be radially uniform when viewed from the center.Thus, the heat exchange efficiency may be improved, and the heat leakagemay be reduced.

In the arrangement of the heat exchange pipeline of FIG. 17, to obtainthe bent efficiency, the pipeline adiabatic part 301 may be insulated.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view for explaining an adiabatic structureof the heat exchange pipeline provided in FIG. 17.

Referring to FIG. 18, in the pipeline adiabatic part 301, the innerspace of the pipeline adiabatic case 302 may be filled in a manner suchas polystyrene foaming. The pipeline adiabatic part 301 may beconfigured so that the inlet pipe 171 and the outlet pipe 172, whichconstitute the heat exchange pipeline 117, may accurately performcounter current heat exchange at a predetermined position. In addition,the heat exchange pipeline 117 may be wound so a diameter thereofincreases toward the outside to achieve thermal equilibrium.

Although the heat exchange pipeline 117 is shown to be wound to form onelayer, the heat exchange pipeline 117 may alternatively be wound to formtwo layers or three layers.

FIG. 19 is a view for explaining another example of the adiabaticstructure of the heat exchange pipeline of FIG. 17.

Referring to FIG. 19, the pipeline adiabatic part 301 may be provided ina vacuum state to provide a pipeline vacuum part or space 3011. A vacuumplate 3012 is additionally provided to a side of the second plate member20 in the pipeline adiabatic case 302 to maintain the vacuum statewithin the pipeline vacuum part 3011. The vacuum plate 3012 may coverthe through sealing part 300 to maintain sealing. As a result, the coldair within the refrigerator and an air pressure within the refrigeratormay not have an influence on the pipeline vacuum part 3011.

Hereinafter, the through sealing part 300 will be described.

The through sealing part 300 may be a constitute that is installed at apoint at which the heat exchange pipeline 117 passes through the vacuumadiabatic body and provided to prevent or reduce heat from beingtransferred to the inside and outside that are partitioned by the vacuumadiabatic body.

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of thethrough sealing part 300.

Referring to FIG. 20, the vacuum space part 50 is provided in thespacing part between the plate members 10 and 20. A wrinkled conductiveresistance sheet 63 illustrated in FIG. 8C may be provided at thethrough-parts or openings the plate members 10 and 20 The wrinkledconductive resistance sheet 63 may resist to thermal conduction betweenthe plate members 10 and 20 and prevent the members 10 and 20 from beingdamaged by a pressure difference between a vacuum pressure and anatmospheric pressure. Both ends of the wrinkled conductive resistancesheet 63 may be welded to the plate members 10 and 20, and thermalconduction may be further prevented by the wrinkle shape of the wrinkledconductive resistance sheet 63.

The heat exchange pipeline 117 passes through an inner space of thewrinkled conductive resistance sheet 63. Blocks 310 and 320 may bedisposed on upper and lower ends of the heat exchange pipeline 117 toblock opened portions. A sealing member 330 may be provided inside of orbetween the blocks 310 and 320 to block a small ventilation.

The blocks 310 and 320 may be made of a soft material having a low heatconductive coefficient. The blocks 310 and 320 may be made of a materialhaving a thermal conductivity less than that of each of the platemembers 10 and 20 to resist to thermal conduction between the platemembers.

Alternatively to the configuration as shown, he wrinkled conductiveresistance sheet 63 may be implemented as a member or sheet having asmall a large amount of wrinkles or ridges of a small size . Forexample, a flat thin plate-like member or an arc-shaped plate may beprovided. A member connecting the through-part of the first plate member10 to the through-part of the second plate member 20 to block vacuumleakage of the third space, that is a vacuum space, may be called athird plate member or a third plate.

One surface of the third plate member may be supported by the block 310or 320 and the sealing member 330, and thus, heat transfer through thethird plate may be blocked by the block and the sealing member.

The blocks 310 and 320 will be described in detail.

The blocks 310 and 320 may be provided as a pair of members, whichperform the same function. Although any one member is described, thedescription may be equally applied to the other member.

An outer supporter 311, which contacts an outer surface of the firstplate member 10 to seal a gap or opening formed in the first platemember 10 and/or to help seal the vacuum space part 50 between the firstand second plate members 10 and 20 is provided in the first block 310provided at a side of the first plate member 10, i.e., in the inside ofthe refrigerator. The heat exchange pipe 117 may be supported by a firstsurface provided inside the outer supporter 311, and the through-partmay be supported within a second surface provided on a bottom surface ofthe outer supporter 311. The outer supporter 311 may serve to supportthe heat exchange pipe 117 and perform an operation so that the block310 is supported at the through-part.

An inner pusher 312 having a size corresponding to a cross-sectionalsize of the wrinkled conductive resistance sheet 63 may be furtherprovided inside the outer supporter 311.

The inner pusher 312 may compress a sealing member 330 to fill the innerspace of the wrinkled conductive resistance sheet 63. The sealing member330 may be made of a material that is curable after a predetermined timeelapses as a fluid such as liquid silicon. According to the sealingmember 330, the entire gap or vacuum space part 50 excluding the innerpushers 312 and 322 and the heat exchange pipeline 117 may be sealed inthe inner space of the wrinkled conductive resistance sheet 63. Amaterial having a thermal conductivity less than that of the platemembers 10 and 20 may also be applied to the sealing member 330.

The description of the outer supporter 311 is similarly applied to theouter supporter 321 of the second block 320, and the description of theinner pusher 312 is similar for the inner pusher 322 of the second block320.

The through sealing part 300 having the above-described structure mayshield a flow and heat transfer of a gas passing through the inside andthe outside of the vacuum adiabatic body even though the heat exchangepipeline 117 passes through the vacuum adiabatic body.

When the block 310 or 320 blocks the thermal conduction between the heatexchange pipe 117 and the third plate member and completely seals theheat exchange pipe 117 and the third plate member so that air does notpass, the sealing member 330 may be omitted. In this case, only theblock 310 or 320 may be called a sealing member. Here, when the block310 or 320 is initially applied, a synthetic resin having plasticity maybe applied.

When the leakage of the cold air of the first space is not prevented byusing only the blocks 310 and 320, the sealing member 330 may beapplied. In this case, both the blocks 310 and 320 and the sealingmember 330 may be called a sealing member or system. Here, the blocks310 and 320 may mainly block thermal conduction, and the sealing member330 may mainly prevent or reduce cold air leakage.

The descriptions of the blocks 310 and 320 and the sealing member 330may be equally applied to other embodiments with respect to the throughsealing part.

FIGS. 21A, 21B, 22A, and 22B are views illustrating a process ofmanufacturing the through sealing part 300.

First, referring to FIGS. 21A and 21B, an FIG. 21A illustrates a sideview, and FIG. 21B illustrates a plan view.

The blocks 310 and 320 may be divided into first or one-side blocks 3101and 3201 and second or the other side blocks 3102 and 3202. The firstblock 310 will be described as an example, and the same description willbe equally applied to the second block 320.

The first block 310 may be divided into one-side block 3101 and theother-side block 3102 to surround the heat exchange pipeline 117. Whenthe first block 310 is provided as a single body, the first block may beinserted from an end of the heat exchange pipeline 117 so as to beguided to a proper position. However, it is not desirable because itcauses difficulty in work. In FIG. 21 B, arrows indicate that one-sideblock 3101 and the other-side block 3102 are approaching to the heatexchange pipeline 117 to surround the heat exchange pipeline 117.Predetermined grooves 3103 and 3104 may be defined in the blocks so thatthe one-side block and the other-side block surround the heat exchangepipeline 117.

In FIG. 21B, dotted lines indicate the corresponding positions of avertical cross-section and a horizontal cross-section, and a relativeposition of the heat exchange pipeline 117 and the blocks 310 and 320may be understood together.

A sealing member 330 may be inserted as a fluid in the inner space ofthe wrinkled conductive resistance sheet 63. The sealing member 330 maybe provided to surround an outer surface of the heat exchange pipeline117. The sealing member 330 may prevent the heat exchange pipeline 117from contacting the wrinkled conductive resistance sheet 63 tosufficiently perform the function of the thermal conductive resistanceby the conductive resistance sheet 53. Thereafter, the blocks 310 and320 are pushed into the wrinkled conductive resistance sheet 63.Explanation will be given while changing the drawing.

Referring to FIGS. 22A and 22B, FIG. 22A illustrates a side view, andFIG. 22B illustrates a plan view.

The first and second blocks 310 and 320 are inserted into the wrinkledconductive resistance sheet 63. An arrow indicates a moving direction ofthe blocks 310 and 320.

Since the first and second blocks 310 and 320 are at least partiallyinserted into the wrinkled conductive resistance sheet 63, the sealingmember 330 may be deformed to move to a spacing part or gap between theheat exchange pipe 117 and the conductive resistance sheet 63 so as tobe filled into the spacing part. Here, the inner pushers 312 and 322 mayperform a function of a plunger that pushes and compresses the sealingmember 330.

When the blocks 310 and 320 are sufficiently inserted into the wrinkledconductive resistance sheet 63, the sealing member 330 may be filledinto the spacing part between the grooves 3103 and 3104 of the blocksand the heat exchange pipeline 117. Since the heat exchange pipeline 117may be provided as a pair of pipes 171 and 172, it may be difficult toprovide the grooves 3013 and 3104 so as to match outer appearances ofthe pipes 171 and 172. Due to this limitation, the sealing member 330may be convenient in terms of production to prevent a gap between thegrooves of the blocks 310 and 320 and the heat exchange pipeline 117from occurring. The sealing member 330 may be an adhesive so that theblocks 310 and 320 are coupled to each other.

An arrow of FIG. 22 indicates that the inner pushers 312 and 322 pushthe sealing member 330 to seal the inside of the wrinkled conductiveresistance sheet 63.

According to the through sealing part 300, the heat exchange pipeline117 may perform the sealing on the inside and outside of a portion atwhich the heat exchange pipeline 117 passes through the vacuum adiabaticbody, and heat transfer between the inside and the outside of the vacuumadiabatic body may be reduced.

The through sealing part 300 may block heat transferred through thethrough-part of the vacuum adiabatic body together with the pipelineadiabatic part 301. A mutual relationship between the through sealingpart 300 and the pipeline adiabatic part 301 will be described bychanging the drawing.

FIGS. 23 to 26 are views illustrating the mutual relationship betweenthe through sealing part 300 and the pipeline adiabatic part 301.

First, referring to FIG. 23, the pipeline adiabatic part 301 may providea forward pipeline adiabatic part or space 341 having the throughsealing part 300 at a center thereof. The adiabatic part 341 may expandin a forward direction along a plane perpendicular or forward from theplate member 20, while a portion of the heat exchange pipeline 117 mayspiral inside of a plane that is parallel to a plane along the secondplate member 20, as previously described with reference to FIG. 17. Theforward pipeline adiabatic part 341 may be preferably applied to theheat exchange pipeline of FIG. 17.

The forward pipeline adiabatic part 341 may be attached to or providedat the second block 320 and/or the second plate member 20 and/or theheat exchange pipeline 117 or be foamed into an inner space of apredetermined case.

Referring to FIG. 24, the pipeline adiabatic part 301 may provide aone-way pipeline adiabatic part or space 342 extending in one directionof the through sealing part 300. The one-way pipeline adiabatic part 342may be preferably applied to the heat exchange pipeline 117 of FIG. 16.

The one-way pipeline adiabatic part 341 may be attached to or providedat the second block 320 and/or the second plate member 20 and/or theheat exchange pipeline 117 or be foamed into an inner space of apredetermined case.

Referring to FIG. 25, the pipeline adiabatic part 301 may provide aone-side adiabatic part or space 344 provided at one side along the heatexchange pipeline 117 apart from the through sealing part 300. Theone-side adiabatic part 344 may be fixed to the block 320 and/or theheat exchange pipeline 117 and/or the second plate member 20.

The other space through which the heat exchange pipeline 117 passes mayprovide an opening adiabatic part or space 343 so that the other spaceis separated from the vacuum space 50 and other spaces by the pipelineadiabatic case 302 to perform an adiabatic function.

Referring to FIG. 26, unlike the case of FIG. 26, the one-side adiabaticpart 344 may be provided to be separated from the block 320. This casemay be applied to a case in which additional heat exchange between theinlet pipe 171 and the outlet pipe 172 is required when the heatexchange performance of the heat exchange pipeline 117 is insufficient.

The cases of FIGS. 25 and 26 may be preferably applied to obtain theadiabatic effect as a simple constitute when the thermal insulation tothe first plate member 10 is required.

FIGS. 27 and 28 are views of a through sealing part 300 according toanother embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 27, this embodiment is different from the embodimentof FIG. 20 in that male and female blocks are engaged with each other,and the sealing member 330 is changed to a sealer such as an 0-ring. Thedescription related to FIG. 20 may be applied as it is without anyspecific explanation.

A first block 360 may be disposed at a side of a first plate member 10,and a second block 370 may be disposed at a side of a second platemember 20. Since the blocks 360 and 370 are similar to each other, onewill be described, and the same description will be applied to otherblocks as well.

In the first block 360, an outer supporter 361 is caught to be supportedon the first plate member 10, and an inner insertion part or pipe 362 isfurther provided inside the outer supporter 361 and then inserted into awrinkled conductive resistance sheet 63. A first coupling part 363 isdisposed at at least one point of the inside and outside of the innerinsertion part 362.

An outer supporter 371 and the inner insertion part 372 are furtherdisposed on the second block 370. A second coupling part 373 is providedat at least one point of the inside and outside of the inner insertionpart 372.

The outer supporters 361 and 371 are caught on outer surfaces of theplate members 10 and 20 to seal contact surfaces between the blocks 360and 370 and the plate members 10 and 20, respectively. Outer surfacesealers 365 and 375 may be inserted into the contact surfaces of theblocks 360 and 370 and the plate members 10 and 20 to improvereliability of the sealing operation. Inner surface sealers 364 and 374may be inserted into contact surfaces of inner surfaces of the outersupporters 361 and 371 and an outer surface of the heat exchangepipeline 117 to prevent a fluid from flowing to the inside and outsideof the refrigerator. Each of the inner surface sealers 364 and 374 mayhave a cross-sectional shape similar to a shape of the outer surface ofthe heat exchange pipeline 117 to completely perform the sealingoperation on the contact surfaces.

Each of the sealers 364, 365, 374, 375 may be made of rubber andprovided in a manner in which an object made of an elastic materialsurrounds the outer surface of the block 360 and/or 370.

The coupling parts 363 and 373 may be provided as coupling units, whichare disposed on surfaces corresponding to each other. For example, afemale screw or thread and a male screw or thread may be provided to becoupled to each other by rotation thereof. The mutual contact surfacesof the sealers 364, 365, 374, and 375 may be sealed to approach eachother by the coupling operation of the coupling parts 363 and 373.

The blocks 360 and 370 may be made of a rubber or plastic material andmay not interrupt the action of the thermal conductive resistance of thewrinkled conductive resistance sheet 63. A spacing part between thewrinkled conductive resistance sheet 63 and the blocks 369 and 370 maybe empty, or the sealing member 330 may be inserted into the spacingpart to resist to the thermal conductive transfer and the flow of thefluid.

Referring to FIG. 28, although each of the blocks 360 and 370 isprovided as one body, the two members of the blocks 360 and 370 may beintegrated with each other in a state of being separated from each otherlike the embodiment of FIG. 20. After each of the blocks 360 and 370 isprovided as one body, the blocks 370 may be coupled to each other in astate of being coupled to the outer surface of the heat exchangepipeline 117 to complete the coupling of the through sealing part 330.

A direction of an arrow indicates a moving direction and a rotationdirection of each of the blocks 360 and 370.

FIGS. 29 to 40 are views illustrating various embodiments in which theheat exchange pipeline is installed according to various refrigeratorsto which the vacuum adiabatic body is applied. For example, therefrigerator, which is illustrated in FIGS. 10, 12, and 14, has a shapein which a single vacuum adiabatic is partitioned into two storage roomsby a partition wall. Here, cold air is supplied to the two storage roomsby a single evaporator. Hereinafter, an embodiment of the heat exchangepipeline according to various refrigerator types is presented. Theconfiguration of the refrigerator which does not specifically describethe configuration of the refrigerator is assumed to be the same as thedescription already described.

In FIGS. 29 and 30, a single vacuum adiabatic body 2 provides a singlestorage room for a refrigerator 1, and the cold air is supplied to thesingle storage room by the single evaporator.

Referring to FIG. 29, the heat exchange pipeline 117 may be disposedoutside the second plate member 20. Thus, the heat exchange pipeline 117may be thermally insulated by the pipeline adiabatic part 301 and/or thepipeline adiabatic case 301.

A through sealing part 300 through which a refrigerant pipelineconnecting the heat exchange pipeline 117 to the evaporator 7 may beprovided. A defrosting water pipeline 352 to discharge defrosting watergenerated during an operation of the evaporator 7 may be furtherprovided in the vacuum adiabatic body in addition to the through sealingpart 300.

Referring to FIG. 30, the other parts are the same as those in FIG. 29,and the defrosting water pipeline 352 and the through sealing part 300are shared. Particularly, not only the refrigerant pipeline passesthrough the single through sealing part 300 but also passes through thedefrosting water pipeline 352.

In this embodiment, since the number of openings defined in the vacuumadiabatic body is reduced, the adiabatic loss may be more reduced, andalso, the fear of the vacuum breakage may be reduced.

In this embodiment, since the heat exchange pipeline 117 is disposed inthe inner space of the machine room 8 (FIGS. 2 and 16), the spaceutilization may be more improved, the outer appearance of therefrigerator may be more simplified, and the refrigerator 1 may bereduced in volume.

In FIGS. 31 to 33, a refrigerator 1 providing at least two storage roomsin which a single vacuum adiabatic body 2 is partitioned by a partitionwall 350 is provided. An evaporator is provided in each of the storagerooms to supply cold air into the at least two storage rooms.

Referring to FIG. 31, the heat exchange pipeline 117 may be disposedoutside the second plate member 20. Thus, the heat exchange pipeline 117may be thermally insulated by the pipeline adiabatic part 301 and/or thepipeline adiabatic case 301.

A through sealing part 300 through which a refrigerant pipelineconnecting the heat exchange pipeline 117 to each of the evaporators 71and 72 may be provided. A defrosting water pipeline 352 for dischargingdefrosting water generated during an operation of each of theevaporators 71 and 72 may be further provided in the vacuum adiabaticbody in addition to the through sealing part 300. The defrosting waterpipeline 352 is configured so that defrosting water generated in theevaporators 71 and 72 flows together.

The two evaporators may be provided to adjust an amount of refrigerantintroduced into each of the evaporators 71 and 72 according to capacitythat is required for each of the evaporators. For this, a refrigerantdistribution part 401 may be provided at a rear end of a condenser 5.The refrigerant distributed in the refrigerant distribution part 401 maybe heat-exchanged by the heat exchange pipeline 117 and then introducedinto each of the evaporators 71 and 72.

The refrigerant evaporated in the evaporators 71 and 72 may be combinedin a refrigerant combining part 402 and then perform heat exchange inthe heat exchange pipeline 117. The refrigerant combining part 402 maybe provided at any point within the refrigerator 1. Since the inlet pipe172 constituting the refrigerant combining part 402 has a pipelinehaving a large diameter, it is not preferable that the two outlet pipes172 pass through the through sealing part 300 because a cross-sectionalarea of the through sealing part 300 increases. Thus, the refrigerantcombining part 402 may be provided inside the vacuum adiabatic body 2,i.e., at any point within the refrigerator.

On the other hand, since the inlet pipe 171 is a capillary, the twopipelines may pass together through the through sealing part 300. Also,since a separate control of the amount of heat exchange is desired foran individual control of the refrigerant 1, the two inlet pipes mayindividually pass through the through sealing part 300.

In this embodiment, the refrigerator may be preferably applied when theindependent control of the storage rooms is required.

Referring to FIG. 32, this embodiment is different from the foregoingembodiments in that the heat exchange pipeline 117 is disposed insidethe partition wall 350, like the embodiment of FIG. 12.

According to this embodiment, in addition to the feature of theembodiment of FIG. 31, it is unnecessary to separately provide thepipeline adiabatic part 301 and the pipeline adiabatic case 302 outsidethe refrigerator 1. Thus, the outer spaces of the refrigerator 1 may bemore efficiently utilized. In addition, since the adiabatic constituentsof the partition wall 350 are used together with the adiabaticconstituents of the heat exchange pipeline 117, the space utilization ofthe inner space of the refrigerator 1 may be improved.

In this embodiment, the refrigerant combining part 402 (FIG. 31) may beprovided inside the partition wall.

Referring to FIG. 33, this embodiment is different from the foregoingembodiments in that the heat exchange pipeline 117 is disposed insidethe machine room 8 (FIG. 16), like the embodiment of FIG. 31. In thisembodiment, the refrigerant combining part 402 may be provided in aspace within the refrigerator 1.

According to this embodiment, in addition to the feature of theembodiment of FIG. 31, the defrosting water pipeline 352 and the throughsealing part 300, which are required for driving the evaporators 71 and72, may be achieved by a single through-structure. That is to say, twoinlet pipes 171, outlet pipes 172, and defrosting water pipelines 352may pass together through the single through sealing part 300 throughwhich the vacuum adiabatic body passes. Thus, according to anotherembodiment, since the single through-part 300 sufficiently serves as thethrough-parts, which are disposed to be spaced apart from each other attwo positions, the adiabatic loss may be reduced, and the fear offailure due to the vacuum breakage may be reduced.

In this embodiment, since the heat exchange pipeline 117 is installed inthe inner space of the machine room 8 (FIG. 16), the machine room 8 maybe efficiently utilized, and the refrigerator 1 may not increase insize, thereby more efficiently utilizing a space outside therefrigerator.

In this embodiment, since the number of openings defined in the vacuumadiabatic body is reduced, the adiabatic loss may be further reduced,and also, the vacuum breakage or a loss of a vacuum state may bereduced.

In FIGS. 34 to 36, a refrigerator 1 providing at least two storage roomsin which a single vacuum adiabatic body 2 is partitioned by a partitionwall 35 is provided. An evaporator 71, 72 is provided in each of thestorage rooms to supply cold air into the at least two storage rooms.Thus, the refrigerator 1 may have a shape similar to that illustrated inFIGS. 31 and 33. However, the refrigerators are different from eachother in that two compressors 501 and 502 are provided to enhancecompression efficiency and achieve a higher pressure. Since the twocompressors 501 and 502 are provided, it is possible to positively copewith the refrigerant of the two evaporators 71 and 72.

An embodiment of FIGS. 34 to 36 is the same as that of FIGS. 31 to 33except for a configuration related to a compressor, and thus, therelevant description is applied as it is.

Referring to FIG. 34, the refrigerator 1 according to this embodimentmay be preferably applied when an independent control of each of storagerooms is required, and a compressor 501 of a low pressure part and acompressor 502 of a high pressure part are provided in series. The twocompressors 501 and 502 may reach a higher pressure and supplysufficient cooling power to the two evaporators 71 and 72.

Referring to FIG. 35, the refrigerator according to this embodiment mayhave improved space utilization. In addition, the compressor 501 of thelow pressure part and the compressor 502 of the high pressure part maybe provided in series. The two compressors 501 and 502 may reach ahigher pressure and supply sufficient cooling power to the twoevaporators 71 and 72.

Referring to FIG. 36, in the refrigerator 1 according to thisembodiment, since the number of openings defined in the vacuum adiabaticbody 2 is reduced, the adiabatic loss may be more reduced, and also, thefear of the vacuum breakage may be reduced. In addition, the compressor501 of the low pressure part and the compressor 502 of the high pressurepart may be provided in series. The two compressors 501 and 502 mayreach a higher pressure and supply sufficient cooling power to the twoevaporators 71 and 72.

In FIGS. 37 and 38, a refrigerator 1 having a plurality of singlestorage rooms constituted by a single vacuum adiabatic body 2 isprovided. Here, a single evaporator 7 may supply cool air to each of thecorresponding single storage room. In this embodiment, each of thestorage rooms may operate in a different thermal state so that therefrigerator 1 operates in various configurations. A refrigerator systemillustrated in FIGS. 29 and 30 may be applied in a redundant manner, andthus, the same description will be applied to this embodiment as well.

Referring to FIG. 37, the refrigerator illustrated in FIG. 29 may beviewed as a structure in which the storage rooms of the refrigerator 1are stacked on both the upper and lower sides. Each of the storage roomsof the refrigerator 1 is provided in different temperature states so asto be adapted for the needs of the consumer.

Referring to FIG. 38, the refrigerator illustrated in FIG. 30 may beviewed as a structure in which the storage rooms of the refrigerator 1are stacked on both the upper and lower sides. Each of the storage roomsof the refrigerator 1 may be also provided in different temperaturestates so as to be actively adapted for the needs of the consumer.

The storage rooms of FIGS. 37 and 38 may be used in combination witheach other. For example, in one of the refrigerators 1 (FIG. 38), theheat exchange pipeline 117 is located in the machine room 8. In theother refrigerator 1 (FIG. 37), the heat exchange pipeline 117 may beplaced on the outer rear surface of the vacuum adiabatic body 117.

In FIG. 39, the refrigerator 1 includes at least two vacuum adiabaticbodies. Each of the at least two vacuum adiabatic bodies or main bodies601 and 602 provides a storage room. Thus, the refrigerator 1 mayinclude at least two storage rooms. Particularly, this embodiment isdifferent from the foregoing embodiment in that cold air is supplied toall of the at least two storage rooms by a single evaporator 7.

Referring to FIG. 39, a first main body 601 and a second main body 602,which are provided as the vacuum adiabatic bodies, are provided. Each ofthe main bodies 601 and 620 may be selectively opened and closed bydoors 3, respectively.

The necessary constituents for the refrigeration system such as thecompressor 4, the condenser 5, the evaporator 7, the heat exchangepipeline 117, and the defrosting water pipeline 352 are provided aroundthe second body 602. The heat exchange pipeline 117 may be withdrawn tothe outside by passing through the vacuum adiabatic body 601 and/or 602through the through sealing part 300. The cold air may be directlysupplied from the evaporator 7 to the inside of the second main body 602the refrigerator.

The first main body 601 and the second main body 602 may communicatewith each other by a cold air passage 351. The cold air passage 351 maybe provided as two passages for supplying and collecting the cold air tosufficiently supply the cold air. The cold air passage 351 may beprovided as a passage that passes through each of the main bodies 601and 602 and connect the main bodies 601 and 602 to each other.

According to this embodiment, the refrigeration system in which thesingle heat exchange pipeline 117 is provided may provide cold air tothe two vacuum adiabatic bodies 601 and 602. Each of the vacuumadiabatic bodies 601 and 602 provides a storage room, and each of thestorage rooms may operate without any temperature interferencetherebetween.

In the embodiment of FIG. 40, the refrigerator includes at least twovacuum adiabatic bodies 601 and 602. Each of the at least two vacuumadiabatic bodies 601 and 602 provides a storage room. Thus, therefrigerator 1 may include at least two storage rooms. Particularly,this embodiment is different from the foregoing embodiment in that coldair provided in one refrigeration system is supplied to each of the atleast two storage rooms by the evaporators 71 and 72. This embodiment isdifferent from the embodiment of FIG. 39 in that an evaporator 71 and 72is provided in each of storage rooms, and others are the same. Thus, thedescription of FIG. 39 will be applied as it is without any specificexplanation.

Referring to FIG. 40, to supply the refrigerant to the two evaporators71 and 72, a refrigerant distribution part 401 and a refrigerantcombining part 402 are provided. An evaporator 71, 72 is provided insideeach of the main bodies 601 and 602 to supply cool air to thecorresponding storage room.

A through sealing part 300 may be provided at fixed facing positions ofthe first main body 601 and the second main body 602 so that the inletpipe and the outlet pipe connected to the first evaporator 71 passthrough the first main body 601 and the second main body 602.

According to this embodiment, the refrigeration system in which thesingle heat exchange pipeline 117 is provided may provide cold air tothe two vacuum adiabatic bodies 601 and 602. Since each of the vacuumadiabatic bodies 601 and 602 not only provides the storage room, butalso the evaporator 72, 72 is provided in each of the storage rooms, aninfluence of the interference of each storage chamber may be removed,and the storage rooms may be completely independently used.

Industrial Applicability

According to the embodiments, when the vacuum adiabatic body is used,since the essentially used heat exchange pipeline is provided in theouter space, which is not related to the vacuum, the interferencebetween the vacuum space part and the heat exchange pipeline may beremoved to expect the further effect on the actual commercialization.

In more detail, there are the effects of reducing the heat loss due tothe reduction of the number of through-parts, improving the convenienceof the work, and reducing the fear of the vacuum breakage.

1. A refrigerator comprising: at least one main body having a vacuumadiabatic body to define at least one first space configured to storeitems; and a door configured to open or close the main body to allowaccess to the first space from a second space, a compressor provided ina machine room and configured to compress a refrigerant; a condenserprovided in the second space and configured to condense a compressedrefrigerant; an expansion device configured to expand the condensedrefrigerant; an evaporator provided in the first space and configured toevaporate the expanded refrigerant to dissipate heat; and a refrigerantpipe configured to connect the evaporator to the condenser, wherein thevacuum adiabatic body includes: a first plate configured to define atleast a portion of a wall for the first space; a second plate configuredto define at least a portion of a wall for the second space; a thirdspace provided between the first and second plates and configured to bea vacuum space; a support configured to maintain a distance between thefirst and second plates defining the third space; an opening provided inat least one of the first plate or the second plate and through whichthe refrigerant pipe passes; and a sealing plug surrounding therefrigerant pipe, coupled to the first plate or the second plate at theopening, and made of a material having a thermal conductivity less thanthat of each of the first plate and the second plate.
 2. Therefrigerator according to claim 1, wherein an inner surface of thesealing plug supports the refrigerant pipe, and an outer surface of thesealing plug is supported by the first plate or the second plate at theopening.
 3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising athird plate configured to seal the third space so as to maintain avacuum state of the third space.
 4. The refrigerator according to claim3, wherein the third plate comprises a conductive resistance sheethaving a thin plate shape.
 5. The refrigerator according to claim 3,wherein the sealing plug comprises: a block supported by at least one ofthe first plate or the second plate; and a sealer provided in a gapbetween the block and the third plate.
 6. The refrigerator according toclaim 3, wherein at least a portion of the block is inserted into aninternal space provided by the third plate.
 7. The refrigeratoraccording to claim 1, wherein the sealing plug seals the first space andthe second space to prevent cold air of the first space from flowing outof the first space.
 8. The refrigerator according to claim 7, whereinthe sealing plug comprises: a first block supported by the first plate;and a second block supported by the second plate, the second block beingcoupled to the first block.
 9. The refrigerator according to claim 8,further comprising an adhesive configured to couple the first block tothe second block and seal the first space and the second space.
 10. Therefrigerator according to claim 8, wherein the first block and thesecond block are screw-coupled to each other.
 11. The refrigeratoraccording to claim 8, wherein a sealer is provided between the firstblock and the second block to surround the refrigerant pipe.
 12. Therefrigerator according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the firstblock or the second block includes a first partial block and a secondpartial block that are formed separately and are coupled to each otherto surround the refrigerant pipe.
 13. The refrigerator according toclaim 1, further comprising a heat resistance sheet configured to reduceheat transfer between the first plate and the second plate, wherein therefrigerant pipe comprises an inlet pipe through which the refrigerantis introduced into the evaporator and an outlet pipe through which therefrigerant is discharged from the evaporator, and the inlet and outletpipes are heat-exchanged with each other.
 14. A vacuum adiabatic bodycomprising: a first plate configured to define at least a portion of awall for a first space and having a first opening; a second plateconfigured to define at least a portion of a wall for a second space andhaving a second opening; a third space provided between the first andsecond plates and configured to be a vacuum space; a support configuredto maintain a distance between the first and second plates; a heatresistance sheet configured to reduce heat transfer between the firstplate and the second plate; a refrigerant pipe passing through the firstand second openings to allow a refrigerant to move between the firstspace and the second space; and a sealing assembly surrounding therefrigerant pipe and configured to seal the first and second openings soas to prevent fluid communication between the first space and the secondspace.
 15. The vacuum adiabatic body according to claim 14, wherein thesealing assembly includes a first block supported by the first plate anda second block supported by the second plate, the first and secondblocks being made of a material having a thermal conductivity less thanthat of each of the first plate and the second plate.
 16. The vacuumadiabatic body according to claim 14, wherein the first and secondopenings face each other.
 17. The vacuum adiabatic body according toclaim 14, wherein the sealing assembly comprises: a third plate memberconfigured to seal the third space; and a block supported by at leastone of the first plate or the second plate and made of a material havinga thermal conductivity less than that of each of the first plate and thesecond plate.
 18. The vacuum adiabatic body according to claim 14,further comprising a sealant provided between the first and secondopenings, the sealant configured to be curable after a predeterminedtime elapses.
 19. A refrigerator comprising: at least one main bodyhaving a vacuum adiabatic body to define at least one first spaceconfigured to store items; and a door configured to open or close themain body to allow access to the first space from a second space, acompressor provided in a machine room to compress a refrigerant; acondenser provided in the second space to condense a compressedrefrigerant; an expansion device configured to expand the condensedrefrigerant; an evaporator provided in the first space and configured toevaporate the expanded refrigerant to dissipate heat; and a refrigerantpipe configured to connect the evaporator to the condenser, wherein thevacuum adiabatic body includes: a wall having a first plate; and asecond plate facing each other in a first direction to create a thirdspace configured to be a vacuum space; a support configured to maintaindistance between the first and second plates; an opening provided in atleast one of the first plate or the second plate and through which therefrigerant pipe passes, a sealing plug configured to surround at leasta portion of the refrigerant pipe and contacting at least one of thefirst plate or the second plate, the sealing plug being made of amaterial having a thermal conductivity less than that of each of thefirst plate and the second plate, wherein the sealing plug is configuredto prevent fluid communication between the first space and the secondspace, and the sealing plug spaces the refrigerant pipe apart from thefirst plate and the second plate.
 20. The refrigerator according toclaim 19, further comprising a heat resistance sheet configured toreduce heat transfer between the first plate and the second plate;wherein the sealing plug comprises a first block and a second blockrespectively supported by the first plate and the second plate, and thefirst and second blocks are coupled to each other.